Public can get peek at downtown projects

On Wednesday evening the subject will be the renovation of downtown’s Elks Temple and the new building next door.

The Theater District Association will host a public meeting on the McMenamins brewpub project at 6 p.m. in the Tacoma City Council Chambers, on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St.

The developers will give updates on the transformation of the Elks Temple, the parking structure, and plans for retail, apartment and hotel components of the new construction. Design concepts will be revealed as well. Groundbreaking for the new building is tentatively set for spring of next year, with a grand opening in fall 2012.

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On Thursday the focus turns to conceptual designs for Pacific Avenue’s makeover.

The City of Tacoma is inviting the public to see the plans for improving the right of way between South Seventh and 17th streets. The first phase of the project will incorporate stormwater management design; complete streets concepts; car, bus, light rail and bike transportation; and better signage. The second phase of the project will look at improvements to the Hood Street corridor and Tollefson Plaza.

See the ideas from 9 a.m.-noon at Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave.